MCQs with answers on the topic “India’s Electoral Reforms: Strengthening Democracy”

1. Who is responsible for the administration of elections in India?

A) The President of India
B) The Election Commission of India
C) The Prime Minister of India
D) The Ministry of Law and Justice
Answer: B) The Election Commission of India

2. What is the primary function of the Election Commission of India?

A) To conduct elections for President only
B) To manage political parties
C) To oversee the conduct of elections in the country
D) To draft laws related to elections
Answer: C) To oversee the conduct of elections in the country

3. Which amendment of the Indian Constitution introduced the concept of “adult franchise”?

A) 42nd Amendment
B) 61st Amendment
C) 73rd Amendment
D) 86th Amendment
Answer: B) 61st Amendment

4. In which year was the first General Election held in India?

A) 1947
B) 1950
C) 1952
D) 1956
Answer: C) 1952

5. What is the maximum age limit for members of the Rajya Sabha?

A) 25 years
B) 30 years
C) 35 years
D) No maximum age limit
Answer: D) No maximum age limit

6. What is the significance of the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003?

A) It reduced the age for voting
B) It banned political donations by companies
C) It limited the size of the Council of Ministers
D) It provided reservations for women in Parliament
Answer: C) It limited the size of the Council of Ministers

7. What is the minimum age required for a candidate to contest elections to the Lok Sabha?

A) 18 years
B) 21 years
C) 25 years
D) 30 years
Answer: C) 25 years

8. Which of the following is NOT a part of the electoral process in India?

A) Voter registration
B) Election campaigning
C) Vote counting by the President
D) Vote casting
Answer: C) Vote counting by the President

9. What does EVM stand for in the context of Indian elections?

A) Election Voting Mechanism
B) Electronic Voting Machine
C) Electronic Vote Marking
D) Electoral Voter Management
Answer: B) Electronic Voting Machine

10. The Representation of the People Act, 1950 deals primarily with:

A) Qualifications for voters
B) Conduct of elections
C) Delimitation of constituencies
D) Political party registration
Answer: C) Delimitation of constituencies

11. Which of the following is a key recommendation of the Election Commission for electoral reforms?

A) Digital campaigning restrictions
B) Fixed election dates for all states
C) Introduction of a proportional representation system
D) Voter ID requirement for election participation
Answer: C) Introduction of a proportional representation system

12. What is the concept of “None of the Above” (NOTA) in Indian elections?

A) A voter can reject all candidates in an election
B) A candidate with the lowest votes will be eliminated
C) It allows voters to choose their political party
D) It prevents any individual from voting
Answer: A) A voter can reject all candidates in an election

13. The term “delimitation” refers to:

A) The creation of new political parties
B) The redistribution of parliamentary constituencies
C) The nomination of candidates
D) The appointment of election officers
Answer: B) The redistribution of parliamentary constituencies

14. Who has the authority to notify the election dates in India?

A) The President of India
B) The Election Commission of India
C) The Prime Minister of India
D) The Parliament
Answer: B) The Election Commission of India

15. Which of the following is NOT a recommendation of the Law Commission of India for electoral reforms?

A) Introduction of online voting
B) Compulsory voting for citizens
C) State funding of elections
D) Introduction of caste-based reservations
Answer: D) Introduction of caste-based reservations

16. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments were significant because they:

A) Provided for reservations in Parliament
B) Strengthened local self-government through Panchayats and Municipalities
C) Introduced women’s reservations in Lok Sabha
D) Defined the role of the President
Answer: B) Strengthened local self-government through Panchayats and Municipalities

17. Which of the following is a feature of the “Model Code of Conduct” during elections in India?

A) Prohibition of communal speeches
B) Prohibition of political parties from making promises
C) Regulation of election expenditure
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above

18. What is the primary aim of “Electoral Bonds” introduced in India?

A) To increase voter awareness
B) To fund political parties transparently
C) To ensure voter registration
D) To promote online voting
Answer: B) To fund political parties transparently

19. What is the role of the Election Observer in Indian elections?

A) To supervise the counting of votes
B) To monitor the fairness and legality of the election process
C) To conduct voter registration
D) To create political manifestos
Answer: B) To monitor the fairness and legality of the election process

20. In which year was the “Right to Information (RTI) Act” passed, impacting electoral transparency?

A) 2000
B) 2005
C) 2010
D) 2015
Answer: B) 2005

21. Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner of India?

A) The President of India
B) The Prime Minister of India
C) The Lok Sabha Speaker
D) The Supreme Court of India
Answer: A) The President of India

22. What is the purpose of the “National Register of Citizens (NRC)” in electoral reforms?

A) To identify and register eligible voters
B) To track criminal records of candidates
C) To verify the citizenship status of voters
D) To ensure caste-based reservations
Answer: C) To verify the citizenship status of voters

23. Which of the following reforms has been suggested for better election funding in India?

A) Banning corporate donations
B) Introduction of state funding for elections
C) Capping the amount of money a candidate can spend
D) Limiting donations to political parties
Answer: B) Introduction of state funding for elections

24. What is a key feature of the “E-Voting” system discussed in India’s electoral reforms?

A) Voting via mobile apps
B) Using biometric systems for voter identification
C) Secure voting through electronic means
D) Direct voting by government employees
Answer: C) Secure voting through electronic means

25. What is the primary concern regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in elections?

A) Voter identification issues
B) Lack of transparency and tampering allegations
C) High cost of EVM procurement
D) Inaccessibility for rural voters
Answer: B) Lack of transparency and tampering allegations

26. The Election Commission has proposed “Ranked Choice Voting” to:

A) Ensure more votes are counted
B) Enhance the effectiveness of proportional representation
C) Reduce the number of candidates in each constituency
D) Create more voting opportunities for women
Answer: B) Enhance the effectiveness of proportional representation

27. What is the “Right to Recall” proposal in Indian electoral reforms?

A) It allows voters to remove elected representatives before the end of their term
B) It provides a platform for political parties to recall their members
C) It permits government officers to remove politicians
D) It allows candidates to withdraw their nomination
Answer: A) It allows voters to remove elected representatives before the end of their term

28. What does the “Representation of People Act, 1951” deal with?

A) Election procedures and offenses
B) Voting age and eligibility
C) Powers of the Election Commission
D) Political party registration
Answer: A) Election procedures and offenses

29. Which of the following provisions is part of the Indian electoral reforms related to political parties?

A) Banning the formation of caste-based parties
B) Mandatory representation of women in political parties
C) Political parties must declare their funding sources
D) Political parties must provide free education
Answer: C) Political parties must declare their funding sources

30. Which technology has been suggested as part of electoral reforms to prevent fraud during voting?

A) Blockchain
B) Biometric authentication
C) Artificial Intelligence
D) Voice recognition
Answer: B) Biometric authentication

These MCQs cover various aspects of India’s electoral reforms and their impact on strengthening democracy.